How to keep cats out of the Christmas tree and put a stop to Santa Claws

How to continue cats out of the Christmas tree — and put a stop to Santa Claws

A grey cat eyeing up a bauble decoration

(Epitome credit: Shutterstock)

How to go on cats out of the Christmas tree is something all true cat owners ponder at this time of year. After all, the twinkling lights, shiny baubles and stacked branches are a serious temptation for any feline.

Even if your cats aren't tempted to climb, the pine needles from a home-grown Christmas tree and abaft cables can hands exist chewed, then a Christmas tree could be a condom run a risk for any curious pets.

With this in mind, we've pulled together this guide of tips and tricks to aid continue your cat and the tree condom over the holidays. From choosing the right tree, to setting up and decoration dos and don'ts, we'll suspension downwardly the best practices to keep your kitty prophylactic and sound, away from the Christmas tree.

Hither's how to spatchcock a turkey
Here'due south how to wrap a gift the right way and impress this flavor

Choosing the right tree

First of all, existent Christmas trees are actually bad news for cats. The sap and resin are poisonous, plus any pine needles that drop, or get chewed off, can exist easily ingested and can cause nausea and vomiting. On pinnacle of this, your cat may be tempted to potable whatever sitting water in the base, but as this tin incorporate harmful bacteria it'south best that they steer clear.

For all these reasons, an artificial tree is a better option. We also recommend purchasing a smaller-sized tree — that way, the cat is less likely to injure itself if it manages to topple information technology, and at that place's less mess for you to make clean up.

Setting up the tree

A grey cat hidden amongst the branches in a Christmas tree — (Epitome credit: Shutterstock)

Y'all're going to want to secure your tree as best you can. First, make sure the base feels sturdy; add some weight to it if information technology feels calorie-free and unstable. It's also expert practice to place the tree next to a wall, or corner, abroad from any shelves or cabinets (potential pouncing grounds). For full security, you lot tin can even tie a wire from the top of the tree to the wall. This volition keep information technology upright.

If you do decide to utilize a real tree, be sure to cover upward the water basin with a tree skirt, and then counterbalance or fasten it downward, and then your cat can't get to the sitting water.

In that location are various objects y'all can identify around the base of operations of your tree to put your cat off. Aluminium foil is a common method — cats hate the feel and audio of foil on their paws. Y'all can wrap the trunk in foil and lay information technology on the surrounding footing. You can also identify fresh orange and lemon rinds around the base of your tree, as cats dislike the citrus fragrance. If you lot have an bogus tree, you tin can even spray information technology with repellant.

It'south not a well-known tip, but it'due south a practiced idea to leave your tree blank for a few days earlier you start to decorate it. That way, you give your cat a adventure to get used to it, and they may lose involvement past the time you decorate.

Decorating the tree

When it comes to decorating, the lighting is one of the biggest safe concerns. Cats love to chew, and chewing a live wire can effect in electrocution and burning. Protect any excess cablevision with a cord protector, and secure it to the wall if possible, so it's non dangling for your true cat to see. Call up to switch off your lights when not in use, or if you go out your cat unsupervised.

A grey kitten reaching for a bauble in a Christmas tree — (Paradigm credit: Shutterstock)

A practiced tree-decorating tip for cat owners is to take reward of bells. If you tie bells on the ends of the branches, y'all will hear when your cat attempts the climb. You should as well avoid tinsel — tinsel is attractive to cats, just too a choking hazard. Newspaper garlands and chains are a safe option if you want an alternative.

In full general, try to decorate more than towards the height of your tree than the bottom — that mode there's less obvious temptation for your feline friend. Avoid using glass baubles too, in example your true cat should however reach them and knock them off. If any baubles experience similar they may autumn off easily, yous can tie each on with wire to better secure them.

Remember, don't hang chocolates on your tree, as this is harmful to cats. Don't decorate with fake snow, either, as this too contains toxic chemicals.

Decorating your Christmas tree is past no means easy if y'all've got an adventurous cat running around. Only while the last outcome may not look every bit glamorous, it will keep your cat safe through the holidays, which is the most of import thing.

Katie looks after everything homes-related, from kitchen appliances to gardening tools. She as well covers smart home products too, so is the best point of contact for any household advice! She has tested and reviewed kitchen appliances for over vi years, and so she knows what to look for when finding the all-time. Her favorite thing to test has to be stand mixers as she loves to broil in her spare time.